I got the same machine in a wooden, heavy, cabinet from my grandmother... Had stored it in a closet and decided just now to take it out. I have not been able to open the cabinet, can not "pull" the shelf with the machine attached to it. I removed the machine but still can not figure out how the cabinet works.... Any ideas???

Hi maggie, welcome to the boards.I'll try to take a look at my cabinet tonight and see how it works to open it. Mine is still in the basement. You're right, it is a very heavy cabinet. I'm hoping to get help moving mine upstairs to my sewing room in the next couple of weeks. I'll try to get back to you soon.

I have this machine that I purchased in 1981. What I LOVE about this machine, and an now so use to it, is the automatic bobbin winder while bobbin is in bobbin case.I only found out yesterday from my repair shop that NO ONE makes machines with this style bobbin winder any more.Have you used the 1036 and do you like it?... I bought a new Singer last year and cannot get used to it, from using the 1036 for almost 30 years!I realize the 1036 is a tank, but absolutely loved this machine. I made bridesmaid dresses on it for 4 weddings and numerous clothing on it over the years.

To Bama: Did you ever figure out how to use your machine. I have one, actually am sewing on it right now. got it when I was 16. I actually have the 1030 style, and the 1036. Love the machine. The bobbin got damaged in my 1030, and I have tried to get it repaired over the years. No one repairs them anymore. So my husband bought me the 1036 off e-bay. It is pretty much the same machine, but doesn't have the cams that go in the top of the machine to do decorative stitches. To momquilts: If your parents ever want to sell the machine in the wood cabnet, I might be interested.I bought a newer singer machine, but I think sewing machines are being built now days to do the sewing for you, or just to do embrodery. I actually sew things and you just can't do all the things I used to be able to do on either of these machines.

Oh, I love this machine! My husband gave it to me while we were living in Jacksonville, Florida. We'd been married about 8 months and I remember the delivery man bringing it to our apartment!

I did a lot of sewing on this machine, and made curtains, shirts for my husband, and all my work clothes when I worked in an office. It was fun!

What sold me on the machine is the self-winding bobbin. It spoiled me, for my mother's sewing machine winded the bobbin on top and it was forever messing up. When I got my Creative Touch 1036 the self-winding bobbin was so simple and it made sewing so much more fun.

Fast forward 30 years...my husband and I have been divorced for 3-1/2 years and I still have my Creative Touch 1036. I have been thinking of selling it because I now have 5 sewing machines. Yet, there is something so special about my 1036.

I wish I could tell you something bad about it, but I still love it. It's in a Spanish-inspired cabinet which is very heavy, but on the other hand, having worked in the fabric industry and sold many sewing machines and seen many sewing machine cabinets...this has to be about the most practical and useful cabinet and sewing machine I've ever seen. Maybe that's why I still have it!

I purchased a creative touch 1036 last year at an estate sale for $25 and it came with everything I need, the manual, bobbins, thread, tools. I was elated!

I haven't taken much time to learn how to use it yet, but now I'm trying to make curtains for my new home and I'm struggling. It seems as though I've threaded the needle and am raising the bobbin thread correctly, but unfortunately when I start sewing, the back of the stitch is 'loose,' as if it's just looping around the top stitch. I keep re-reading the manual and trying to re-thread the bobbin but nothing is working. Help!